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The University of Southampton
Human Resources

Retirement explained

The default retirement age (formerly 65) has been phased out and most people can now work for as long as they want to.

The change doesn’t mean you cannot retire. Instead the decision about whether or not to retire and when, is now your choice rather than your employer's.

We do not have a compulsory retirement age for staff at Southampton, but recognise that many staff will still want to retire depending on their individual circumstances and lifestyle choices.

We are committed to supporting you throughout your working life and assisting you with the transition to retirement. Our flexible retirement policy below provides further guidance around retirement and the options for consideration.

Support for Pre-Retirement Planning

If you are considering retirement or flexible retirement within the next 12 to 18 months, the online pre-retirement planning course may be of interest to you.

This course will help you to consolidate your thinking and provide you with the opportunity to consider all aspects of your retirement, or partial retirement, in a structured way. Whether this is about lifestyle planning, financial considerations, or how to avoid some of the common pitfalls so you can make the most of your retirement, there is something to suit. If you haven't already decided exactly when to retire, the course will help you weigh up the possibilities and decide what is right for you.

Before applying for access to this online course, you will need to have:
•    carefully read the Retirement Planning Online Specification ;
•    considered how this support will benefit you.

If you would like to access this online course please contact leadershipandmanagementdevelopment@soton.ac.uk for more information.

Notifying the Pensions Team

Should you require further details on the estimated benefits you will receive for your considered retirement or flexible retirement date, please contact the Pensions Team via pensions@soton.ac.uk .  It is important to notify the Pensions Team of your intention to retire or flexibly retire at least 2 months in advance of your retirement date. This will ensure that all relevant retirement processes are completed in time for your retirement date and that your pension benefits are paid on time.

Policy and guidance

Apply for Flexible Retirement

Guidelines for managers - Retirement and flexible working

Guidelines for staff - Retirement and flexible working

Policy - Flexible retirement

Process - Flexible retirement request

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